Recording apparatus

ABSTRACT

A recording apparatus includes a recording section for sequentially recording reception signals on a continuous, unused recording paper, starting with one end thereof, a cutter for cutting the recording paper to a predetermined length after the recording of the recording paper portion is completed, a developing device for causing a latent image on the recording paper so cut to be developed into a visual image, and a fixing device for causing the visual image to be fixed as a permanent image. In the recording apparatus, a recording paper travelling path is provided which includes a diagonally upward travelling path along which the recording section and cutter are arranged, a first turning travelling path arranged at the exit side of the diagonally upward travelling path to permit the turning of a direction to be effected through a gradual curving guide member, a horizontal travelling path extending horizontally from the exit end of the first turning travelling path and along which the developing device and fixing device are arranged, and a second turning travelling path extending from the exit end of the horizontal travelling path to permit the turning of a direction to be effected through a gradually curving guide member. The recording paper is delivered from the second turning travelling path and stacked horizontally onto a stacker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a recording apparatus for use, for example, ina facsimile receiver and in particular a recording apparatus whichpermits overall reduction in size as well as an improvement in operationefficiency.

The conventional recording system for use, for example, in the facsimilereceiver includes, for example, an electrolytic recording, dischargerecording, heat-sensitive recording, electrostatic recording and ink jettype recording system. These systems are properly selected, and used, inview of various circumstances such as the application and cost of theapparatus and the amount, speed and cost of transmission. Among them, asystem whose signal is subjected to a band compression processing fromthe standpoint of a saving in transmission cost comes into wide,practical use and an electrostatic recording system has been mainlyadopted in view of the necessity of, for example, high-speed recording,high-quality recording and excellent image retainability.

FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of a conventional facsimile receiveradopting an electrostatic recording system. In FIG. 1, reference numeral1 shows a roll of unused, electrostatic recording paper. The recordingpaper is supplied through a feed roller 2 to a nip between anelectrostatic recording head 3, constituting a record section, and aback roller 4. The recording head 3 at the facsimile receiver side issupplied with a facsimile signal from the facsimile transmitter side,not shown. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image to berecorded is formed on the recording paper 1 by the recording head 3. Atthis time, the feed roller 2 and back roller are intermittently rotatedfor each predetermined time interval by a drive means such as a pulsemotor, not shown, causing the recording paper to be fed to permit asubsidiary scanning. In this way, reception recording is completed.After this is done, the recording paper 1 is further fed and cut by anautomatic cutter 5 when a recording paper portion corresponding to atrailing adge of a transmitting document i.e. a predetermined recordingpaper portion as measured from its leading edge reaches a cuttingposition.

The recording paper 1, after so cut to substantially the same length asthat of the transmitting document and separated away from the rest ofthe recording paper, is supplied to a developing device 14 through ahorizontal travelling path constituted of guide members 6, 7 and 8 andfeed rollers 9 and 10 and then through a turning travelling pathcomprised of feed rollers 11, 12 and guide member 13. The developingdevice 14 applies toner powder onto the cut recording paper 1 to effectdevelopment. The developed recording paper 1 is fixed by a fixing device15 and delivered through a delivery roller 16 and stacked onto a stacker17.

In the facsimile receiver, the recording paper is in a normal feed modepast the developing device 14 and fixing device 15. The reason for thisis that upon intermittent feeding of the recording paper as at thereception recording time, a high-quality image cannot be obtained dueto, for example, the nonuniform deposition of the toner power. In orderto permit the recording paper 1 to be fed in the normal feed mode pastthe developing device 14 and fixing device 15, the device of FIG. 1 hasthe following arrangement. That is, the distance from the automaticcutter 5 to the feed roller 12 is made to correspond to a length greaterthan a recording maximum length (300 mm to 400 mm) corresponding to thelength of the transmitting document with a considerably greaterhorizontal path left between the automatic cutter 5 and the guide member8, and the recording paper 1 is fed at a fixed speed past the developingdevice 14 and fixing device 15 with the normal feed effected between thefeed rollers 12 and 16. The above-mentioned apparatus has a depthsubstantially corresponding to the length of the horizontal travellingpath from the cutter 5 to the guide member 8 plus the depth of theturning travelling path from the feed roller 11 to the guide member 13,or substantially corresponding to the depth of the turning travellingpath including the guide member 13 and the roller 12 plus the length ofthe horizontal travelling path from the developing device 14 through thefixing device 15 to the feed roller 16 plus the length of the horizontalstacker 17. That is, the facsimile receiver of FIG. 1 has a fairly greathorizontal depth and in the case of, for example, a console typefacsimile receiver, an excessively bulker unit results. Moreover, amemory section is located immediately below the stacker 17 and othermembers, offering disadvantages of having to remove the stacker 17 etc.upon exchange or replenishment of the recording paper. It is alsodifficult to eliminate a hindrance such as paper jamming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a recordingapparatus which permits overall reduction in its size, attainment ofhigh-quality reception recording, an efficient operation such as theexchange and replenishment of recording papers, and maintenance of theassociated parts or elements.

In order to attain the above-mentioned object, there is provided arecording apparatus comprising a recording section for effecting therecording of a continuous, unused recording paper, starting with one endthereof; a cutter for cutting the recording paper to a predeterminedlength after the recording of the recording paper is completed at therecording section; a developing device for causing a latent image on therecording paper so cut to be developed into a visual image, and a fixingmeans for causing the visual image to be fixed as a permanent image, inwhich a recording paper travelling path is provided which includes adiagonally upward travelling path extending diagonally upward and alongwhich the recording section and cutter are arranged and a horizontaltravelling path along which the developing device and fixing device arearranged and whose length is restricted in a range corresponding to thedepth of the diagonally upward travelling path, and a stacker ishorizontally arranged on the upper side of the horizontal travellingpath to permit the recording paper to be stacked.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a conventional recordingapparatus; and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing a recording apparatus according tothe embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic arrangement of a recording apparatus of thisinvention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 shows a roll of an unused,electrostatic recording paper. The recording paper 21, after fed in adiagonally upward direction, is turned in its direction through a roller22 and fed to a feed roller 23 located in a diagonally upward direction(for example, 45°) with respect to the roller 22. At the exit side ofthe feed roller 23, a recording section comprised of an automatic cutter24, electrostatically recorded head 25 and back roller 26, guide member27, feed roller 28 and guide roller 29 are arranged in that order alongthe diagonally upward travelling path. Thus, the recording paper is fedalong the diagonally upward travelling path including the elements 23 to29. The recording section, feed roller 28, guide member 30, and so onare arranged at a predetermined distance (a length somewhat shorter thana predetermined minimun document length on the transmitter side) asrequired. The recording paper 21 sent from the diagonally upwardtravelling path is turned by a first turning travelling path comprisedof a feed roller 30, a gradually curving guide member 31 and feed roller32 at the output side of the guide member 31. The recording paper 21 isfed along the diagonally upward travelling path to a developing device33 through the feed roller 32 which is located at the exit end of thetravelling path. A distance from the recording section to the feedroller 32 is set to a length greater than a recording maximum length.Since the diagonally upward travelling path is provided between therecording section and the feed roller 32, the apparatus can bemanufactured at a very short depth. The recording paper 21 is travelledalong a horizontal travelling path along which the developing device 33,fixing device 34, guide member 35 and feed roller 36 are arranged inthat order toward the output side of the apparatus. The horizontaltravelling path substantially corresponds in length to the depth of thediagonally upward travelling path. Then, the recording paper 21 is fedalong a second turning travelling path along which a feed roller 36,gradually curving guide member 37 and feed roller 38 are arranged inthat order, and delivered onto a stacker 39 which is located as the exitside of the feed roller 38. The stacker 39 is horizontally arranged onthe upper side of the developing device 33 and it may be removably orswingably mounted.

The operation of the recording apparatus will now be explained below.

The recording paper 21 is fed toward the roller 22 where it is turned inits direction, and then supplied through the feed roller 23 into therecording section. Since the roller 22 is used as a direction turningmeans, the recording paper 21 can be located in a range defined by thedepth of the diagonally upward travelling path. At the recordingsection, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image to berecorded is formed by an electrostatic recording head 25 onto therecording paper 21 when a facsimile signal is sent from a facsimiletransmitter (not shown). At the same time, the feed roller 23 and backroller 26 are intermittently rotated for each predetermined timeinterval by a drive means such as a pulse motor, not shown. Therecording paper 21 is conveyed by the intermittent rotation of the feedroller 23 and back roller 26 to permit it to be subjected to asubsidiary scanning. As the reception recording proceeds, the leadingedge of the recording paper 21 is sent to the feed roller 30 through thefeed roller 28 which is rotated in synchronism with the back roller 26etc. The recording paper 21 is advanced along the diagonally upwardtravelling path into the first turning path comprised of the feed roller30, guide member 31 and feed roller 32. Where the length of thediagonally upward travelling path (including the recording section andthe guide member 29) and first turning travelling path is set to morethan a recording maximum length on a receiver side, reception recordingis always completed before the leading edge of the recording paper 21reaches the feed roller 32. When the reception recording is socompleted, the recording paper 21 is once moved back to a cuttingposition where it is cut by the cutter 24 to a predetermined length asmeasured from the leading edge of the recording paper. The cut recordingpaper is then equal in size to the size of a transmitting document.Since the path from the roller 22 to the feed roller 30 provides thediagonally upward travelling path, the apparatus requires no greaterdepth. After the recording paper is separated from the rest of therecording paper 21, a pulse motor is switched over to an AC motor by acontrol means such as a clutch, not shown, to cause the feed rollers 28,30 to be continuously rotated. Thus, the separated recording paper isfed by the feed rollers 28, 30 at a fixed speed along the diagonallyupward travelling path of, for example, 45° into the guide member 31(located between the feed rollers 30 and 32) where it is turned in itsdirection and carried into the developing device 33. At the developingdevice 33, the latent image on the recording paper is developed by tonespowder into a visible image. The visible image carrying recording paperis fixed by the fixing device 34 to provide a permanent image on therecording paper. Because the developing and fixing operations areperformed while the recording paper is being travelled at a fixed speed,it is possible to make high-quality, uniform recording. The recordingpaper passing through the fixing device 34 is advanced past the feedroller 36 into the gradually curving guide member 37 where it is turnedin its direction. Then, the recording paper 37 reaches the deliveryroller 38 past the guide member 37 and is delivered onto the stacker 39which is horizontally arranged on the upper side of the developingdevice 33 and fixing device 34.

Thus, the arrangement of the apparatus permits the horizontal travellingpath including the developing device 33, fixing device 34 and guidemember 35 and the horizontal path including the stacker to be restrictedsubstantially in a range corresponding to the depth of the diagonallyupward travelling path. This makes the depth of the apparatus muchshorter, permitting the obtainment of a compact unit. Because thereception recording process includes neither any long vertical path norany abrupt turning path, the recording paper 21 is travelled in a stableway, offering an advantage of involving a much less chance of paperjamming. Furthermore, the developed and fixed recording paper 21 is,after being turned at the turning travelling path, delivered onto thehorizontal stackes 39 and stacked in the order of reception, thus makingit easier to take out and arrange the recording papers. The recordingsection and cutter 24 are arranged on the diagonally upward travellingpath to permit the ready loading of a roll of recording paper as well asthe ready maintenance. Since the developing device 33 and fixing device34 are arranged horizontally at the upper section of the apparatus, itis easier to replenish a fresh toner as well as provide the maintenanceof these device.

Although the above-mentioned embodiment has been explained in connectionwith the facsimile receiver, this invention is not restricted theretoand can be applied to an information processing output device ingeneral.

What we claim is:
 1. A recording apparatus comprising:a recordingsection for recording signals on a continuous, unused recording paper,starting with one end thereof; cutting means for cutting the recordingpaper to a predetermined length after recording is completed; adiagonally upward travelling path in which said cutting means and saidrecording section are arranged and along which the recording paper whichis cut by said cutting means travels, the diagonally upward travellingpath having an exit side from which the recording paper is delivered; afirst curved travelling path located at the exit side of said diagonallyupward travelling path and having an entrance side provided in thevicinity of the exit side of said diagonally upward travelling path andexit side, to permit the changing of a direction of the recording paperback on itself to be effected through a first curved guide member whichis continuously provided from the entrance side to the exit side of saidfirst curved travelling path; a horizontal travelling path extending inthe horizontal direction from the exit side of said first curvedtravelling path and having an exit side; a developing device providedalong said horizontal travelling path for causing a latent image on therecording paper, which is fed through said first curved travelling pathto be developed into a visual image.
 2. A recording apparatus accordingto claim 1, further including means for causing the continuous, unusedrecording paper to be supplied through a roller in a direction oppositeto that in which it is fed, so that it is supplied to said recordingsection.
 3. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, in which saidrecording section includes an electrostatically recording head and aback roller.
 4. A recording apparatus to claim 1, further includingmeans for causing the recording paper travelled along the diagonallyupward travelling path to be fed in an intermittent feed mode andcausing the recording paper to be fed in a continuous feed mode at aconstant speed after it is cut to the predetermined length.
 5. Arecording apparatus according to claim 1, in which said first turningtravelling path includes feed rollers disposed at the entry and exitsides thereof and a gradually curving first guide member located betweenthe feed rollers.
 6. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, inwhich the length of said horizontal travelling path is restricted in arange corresponding to the depth of said diagonally upward travellingpath.
 7. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, in which saidsecond turning travelling path includes feed rollers located at theentry and exit ends thereof and a gradually curving second guide memberlocated between said feed rollers.
 8. A recording apparatus according toclaim 1, in which said stacking means is substantially horizontalarranged on the upper side of said horizontally travelling path.
 9. Arecording apparatus according to claim 1, in which the depth of saidsecond turning travelling path and said stacking means is restricted ina range corresponding to the depth of said diagonally upward travellingpath.